Local Texan takes MX-5 Cup season opener in Houston

To some observers, the opening round of the SCCA Pro Racing Sirius Mazda MX-5 cup may have looked like a walk in the park for Jason Saini, but it was anything but. After storming to the lead in the first lap, Saini kept a variety of second place contenders at bay, but the track setup for the Houston Grand Prix was comprised of several large, concrete walls – not the best environment for constant airflow.

[Source: MX-5Cup.com]

Saini maintained a comfortable gap between himself and the pack running behind him, but as the gauges in his No. 28 Autobarn Mazda/Saferacer.com MX-5 began to head north, his crew told him to back off a bit. The gap quickly disappeared and the Texas native had to get the MX-5 back onto boil (sometimes literally).

Second may have been shored by Andrew Caddell, driving the No. 80 Hooverspeed car, after both Caddell and Saini sped off together towards the beginning of the race. But fate, and the wall at Turn Ten, conspired against the Graham, Wash. racer, causing the passenger side door to swing open. Officials flagged Caddell into the pits and he would eventually retire because of the damage.

Jesse Combs, another local Texan and Brett Smrz of Idaho finished second and third respectively.

Road Atlanta will serve as the battlegrounds for Round Two this April 28th and 29th. If you can't attend, we'll keep you posted on the outcome.

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